I adore Kickstarter. I don’t use it often, but when I do it’s usually for one of this guy’s projects. I’m a total fangirl and I know, without Kickstarter I would never get those books in my hands. Ever. And, when I do, as you can see, I’m quite happy.

But Kickstarter isn’t quite what I’m talking about here, because with Kickstarter you’re not just giving money away. You’re booking a product/service that will be available if there is enough interest to support making it. It’s like market research but in reverse.

But the other day I found another writerly type using Go Fund Me. I’d never heard about it before reading his blog and when I did I realised I’d discovered a less known version Kickstarter. Then I started to do some mooching around. There’s loads of these sites. Loads. All used with varied levels of success.

Last month when I was budgeting for the mammoth project that is Silk Over Razor Blades I realised that I was short. Waaaaay short to ensure I could hire the people I wanted to hire to get the quality I wanted. That’s the problem with my current situation; no reliable income but for what I make scribbling. But my primary income from scribbling takes a lot of investment. It’s that curious (and freaking irritating) loop with which all self published authors will be close acquainted.

Did I think of Kickstarter? Or Go Fund Me? Or any of the dozen others I found?
Nope.
I went up into my attic and looked at stuff I could sell.
-_-

Now… I don’t know what this says about me, but not for one second did I consider asking for money. It just never struck my radar. I talked to my mother about my plans and while she applauded the decision to get stuck in and ‘follow this dream’ she also promised me half of the funds required.Yikes!
I didn’t start that phone call intending to ask for cash. Hell, I was whining about something totally unrelated and we ended up talking about work right at the end of the conversation. But my mother is just going to give me a wad of cash to help fund this project. She’s also going to hit my aunt and grandmother for ‘donations.’
I told her not to. She will anyway. And they probably will send something my way. They all consider it an investment. Bless ’em.

But an investment? That’s a kind way to think about it. Is that writers (and anybody else for that matter) are asking for when they crowd-fund? Or are they just begging? Is that okay? Does it matter?

A lot of these questions can be answered by looking at the nature of the project. A writer using Kickstarter to raised funds for editing (and eventually giving those backers a copy of their book) is a lot different to the writer using Go Fund Me to raise funds for a new computer. In that second scenario backers/supporters/folk who donate don’t get anything except maybe a thank you. They aren’t buying anything, they really are just donating funds. There may be a future promise (‘help me buy a computer and when my next book comes out you can buy a copy’) but that, again, is of little value to the reader. What if they don’t like your next book? Don’t they get anything for helping you?

Look! I gave Tab £30 through Kickstarter and he sent me all these beeeeeeeeeeeeautiful things!!!Thank you, Tab. Love yooooooooou! x

Bah. This is one of those posts that full of questions and very little answers (sorry about that) but I wanted to put the thought out there. What do you think? Do you use donation buttons? Crowd-funding or fund-raising websites? How does it work for you? How do you balance what you receive with what you give to ensure it’s not all give and no take?So how did we do? Heh, this is starting to get kinda funny.
If only because I’m learning (even) more about what motivates me and what makes me freeze.
At least time isn’t totally wasted.

Last week

Locate three blogs that allow (or are requesting) guest posts and approach them with regards to me and SORB (trying a different tactic with this marketing plan lark – previous goals weren’t specific enough)
Hmm. I found two. Didn’t approach either. I’m getting there…. sloooowly slowly. Ha! Though I did find a load of great sites that offer help with organising blog tours and if I’m honest that kinda distracted me. *slaps wrist* It seems that spending time looking for someone to do the work for me is far easier than spending time just doing the work. o.O

Choose three social media platforms upon which to focus going forward (choice is between Goodreads, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+ and peer blogs)
Actually this was quite easy. I kinda sorta knew before I began but having it spelled out makes my job easier. Going forward I’ll be focused on Twitter, Goodreads and peer blogs (which includes my mailing list). *nods decisively* So if you want to keep up with me, check out those places as of tomorrow. ^_^

From remainder of list, chose two secondary social media platforms for overspill work (ie – if there is time once main three are targeted)
Also easy. That leaves me with Facebook and Google+ (yes, I do have a Google+ account!) as overspill platforms.

Spend at least two nights NOT working and combine them with EITHER an early night or a CrossFit/Roller Derby workout*
Yep. Getting better at this earlier night stuff, though my body ached right into Thursday from the last CrossFit workout I did. Since I could barely mount the stairs I figured I’d let myself recover before doing anything daft.

This Week

This is the last full week of September. Time to pull my finger out if I want to stay on track. I’m telling myself (quite firmly) that with Raven’s edits done for the time being, Da Shared Brain should have more time for me. We’ll see.

Approach three peer blogs regarding guest posts.

Write up small article for submission to Writing Magazine and/or Writer’s Forum about SORB

Pick a story to submit somewhere

Spend at least two nights NOT working and combine them with EITHER an early night or a CrossFit/Roller Derby workout*

This week I’m actually going to do it. I’m going to take one of these goals per day and get them done. No more slacking. No more worrying over something to the point that it cripples my ability to function. This week I just do it. I get back on form.

*I’m keeping this ‘non writing’ goal in because it’s a health thing and my health has a direct affect on what I’m able to achieve career wise.

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About Ileandra Young

I'm a thirty-*mumbles* year old (purple loving, cheese worshipping) author of fantasy, juggling a pair of beautiful twin boys with my burning desire to make up stories and write them all down.
When I get the chance, I play games, listen to music, and in days long past I even ran a radio show.
Though I occasionally write non-fiction, my heart lives in fantasy and my debut novel, Silk Over Razor Blades is now available through Amazon along with part two of the trilogy, Walking The Razor's Edge.

3 Responses to Crowdfunding: Is It Begging? Does It Matter? (& Mah Plans – 22/09)

Sometimes I spend so much time (and energy) worrying about what I’m NOT doing, i can’t get on with actually doing it. So I think your plan -to take one goal a day and just get on with it – is a good one. Got no real opinions about crowd funding. But I wouldn’t give money to someone unless I was absolutely convinced they were a genius 😆

Funny isn’t it? How easy it is to fall into that trap of worrying about things to the point that nothing else gets done? And it shouldn’t be because I never worried about my 9-5 job in the same way.

Just this morning I woke up a good two hours before I needed to but couldn’t get back to sleep because I was thinking about emails I need to send. I would never have done that with my other job. I suppose that means this job means far more to me than any other. .That’s a good thing, but I need to learn how to treating like previous jobs; I always met deadlines and got things done then.

And there are quite a few super awesome folk with crowd funding projects. I just find that most of them aren’t trying to create something that personally interests me. Pity because some of them really do deserve success.